Seasiders and City share spoils

15 Aug 2009 17:36:21

Chopra scored twice in the Bluebirds' 4-0 opening-day rout of Scunthorpe and was on target again after just 12 minutes.
But Blackpool drew level on the stroke of half time through Ian Evatt on their way to the second 1-1 draw of their fledgling campaign.
The Seasiders were without striker Ben Burgess, their goalscorer in the opening day draw with QPR, because of a knee injury and he was replaced by Brett Ormerod.
The visitors were forced into just one change from the team that beat Scunthorpe, Tony Capaldi replacing the injured Mark Kennedy.
The Bluebirds' stunning start to the campaign also included a 3-1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge in the Carling Cup in midweek, marking them as difficult opponents for a Blackpool outfit that struggled on their home turf last term.
Blackpool started well, Charlie Adam forcing his fellow Scot David Marshall into an early save - but Chopra soon followed up his two goals from last weekend.
The former Sunderland striker has been prolific in the three spells with the south Wales club.
He opened the scoring from the edge of the area with a left-footed shot that flew into the bottom-right corner of the goal.
Blackpool responded well to going behind, however, Ormerod's close-range header two minutes later producing a good save from Marshall.
Keith Southern then drilled a shot wide of the right-hand post, before a Jason Euell header was blocked by Anthony Gerrard.
Cardiff were weathering the storm but suffered a setback when striker Ross McCormack was forced off after 36 minus and replaced by Chris Burke.
Blackpool broke through in stoppage time when Evatt netted.
The former Derby defender found space on the edge of the area before angling a shot across goal into the bottom corner.
Cardiff began more positively after the break, soon winning a free-kick which Peter Whittingham flashed wide from 20 yards.
Jay Bothroyd then drew a save from Paul Rachubka, but it was the hosts who almost went ahead when Stephen Crainey's 20-yard free-kick was tipped over by Marshall - who also comfortably held an Ormerod shot from 12 yards.
Nether side could find their range as they went in search of a winner, Whittingham volleying over the bar before Ormerod missed at the other end.
Marshall would, however, be called on one last time to make a telling save in injury time when he tipped a long-range shot from Ishmel Demontagnac over - before Mark Hudson shot wastefully high from six yards.